Package for paint brushes or the like



Dec. 31, 1368 G. P. O'CONNELL 3,419,132

PACKAGE FOR PAINT BRUSHES OR THE LIKE F l i Filed Nov. 6, 1967 lNl/ENTOR GERARD P. OCONNELL 8y 9 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,419,132 PACKAGE FOR PAINT BRUSHES OR THE LIKE Gerard P. OConnell, 2039 Westfield St., West Springfield, Mass. 01089 Filed Nov. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 680,875 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-151) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is concerned with the packaging of paint brushes or the like for display and, at the same time, protection of the brush. According to this invention, a resilient, sleeve-like package is provided for the containment of the brush, which is adapted to slide over the brush and releasably lock in a position covering the bristles and ferrule. The locking is not permanent, so that the package may be removed without mutilating the package, and subsequently reused. The locking feature of the package is provided by one or more indentations in the sleeve which lock, or catch, in a certain portion of the brush as the brush is inserted into the package.

Summary and description This invention relates generally to packages or receptacles, and more particularly, this invention relates to packages for the containment and display of brushes such as the common type of paint brush.

This invention is particularly applicable for use in connection with paint brushes, or the like, wherein the brush includes an elongated handle, bristles, and a ferrule for holding the bristles and joining them to the handle.

Such brushes are commonly displayed and sold to consumers in retail stores, etc., where the consumer is permitted to examine the brush before making his purchase. It is important that the bristles of the brushes be protected from damage, and from 'dust and dirt. It is very desirable that the brush be readily accessible for inspection, thus requiring a special type of package which may be easily and simply used. After a brush has been purchased, it may be used a number of times during its life. In this respect, it is very desirable that the brush be easily packaged for storage between uses.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a protective and reusable package or container for a paint brush or the like.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a package or container into which a brush may easily be inserted and firmly secured in place, and which may be reused a number of times.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a paint brush package which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a paint brush package or the like which may be used as a suitable display, and if desired, a suitable suspending means for hanging from a stand or the like.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a package for a paint brush or the like which utilizes the natural configuration and construction of the brush to accomplish its locking, but reusable, feature.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a package for a brush or the like which requires no opening or closing operations when packaging or removing the brush, thus providing for simple and convenient use.

The above and other related objects of the invention as well as the novel features whereby they are attained will be apparent from the following description of the disclosure found in the accompanying drawings and the particular novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

ice.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a package according to my invention, with a paint brush or the like contained therein being shown in phantom.

FIGURE 2 is an end or elevation view of the package illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial section view taken along the line 33 in FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the package according to this invention comprises a sleeve-like portion 10 for containing a brush having a handle 12, ferrule 14, and bristles 16. Although the drawings illustrate the package as being of two-piece construction, it should be understood that the construction may be of single-piece construction, if desired. As shown in the drawings, however, the sleeve-like portion 10 of the package includes, as one wall thereof, a member 18, such as a backing member, which may conveniently be of a rectangular shape, and of a material such as paperboard, or any suitable semi-rigid material. The member 18 is generally flat, and may conveniently be of a size such as to completely form a backing for the brush, and furthermore, to provide space for printing of a description, advertisement, or the like concerning the brush.

A member 20 of resilient material such as a suitable plastic is permanently aflixed to one face of the member 18 to form the other side walls of the sleeve-like package 10. Member 20 includes a generally flat section 22 for forming a front wall of the sleeve-like portion, and side sections 24 and 26, integral with the section 22. Side sections 24 and 26 may conveniently be slightly rounded as shown in the drawings.

The member 20 also includes sections 28 and 30, which are generally in a plane parallel with the front section or wall 22, and which are permanently attached to the member 18, as by a suitable adhesive. The sections 28 and 30 are shown as being turned inwardly towards each other in the drawings, but, of course it will be understood that they may be turned outwardly if found to be more convenient. Thus, the sleeve-like package is formed on the front or face side by section 22 of member 20, on the sides by sections 24 and 26 of the member 20, and on the back by a portion of the member 18.

Preferably, the member 20 is of a transparent material so that a brush contained therein may easily be visually inspected. The sleeve-like package 10 is open at its end, or the bottom 32 for the entire cross-section thereof. The opposite end, or top 34, in most situations is somewhat obstructed or restricted in cross-section, for reasons which will be described hereinafter.

The package 10 is made slightly larger in cross-section than that of a brush to be contained therein. A brush is normally inserted into the sleeve-like portion 10 of the package handle-first. A pair of opposed indentations 36 and 38 are provided in the side sections 24 and 26, intermediate the ends 32 and 34 of the sleeve-like portion 10, for restricting the cross-section of the package between the innermost points 40 and 42 of the indentations 36 and 38, respectively. As the top of the ferrule portion 14 of a brush contacts the opposed indentations, the outward pressure on the indentations causes the identations to spring outward from their normal position to allow passage of the ferrule 14. Once the end of the ferrule portion 14 has passed the indentations 36 and 38, the pressure is released and the resiliency of the member 20 causes the indentations of the package to snap back to their original shape; thus, the indentations 36 and 38 spring back inwardly such that the innermost points 40 and 42 catch the brush at the end of the ferrule 14 at its junction with the bristles 16.

The indentations 36 and 38 may conveniently be tapered inwardly towards the end 34 which forms the top of the sleeve-like portion 10. The indentations 36 and 38 may be wedge-shaped as shown in the drawings, thus terminating at their innermost portions along edges 40 and 42. Due to the generally wedge-shape of the indentations, a brush inserted from the end 32 tends to spring the sleeve-like portion gradually, thus providing for relatively easy entry into the package. The indentations may, however, be of any convenient shape. Indentations 36 and 38, as illustrated in the drawings, lie in an intermediate section of the sleeve-like portion 10 of the package, spaced from each of the ends 32 and 34. The ribs 44 and 46 are provided merely for strengthening the package.

The top, or end 34, may be provided with opposed in dentations 48 and 50 for partially obstructing the end 34 to prevent a brush from accidently slipping through that end. As illustrated in the drawings, the distance between the opposed portions 40 and 42 of indentations 36 and 38 is of an amount to accommodate a particular size brush in the package. The member 18 may conveniently be provided with an opening 52 for suspending the package from a support. To remove a brush from the package, a slight movement of the brush, axially of the sleevelike portion, will cause the brush to become unlocked.

I claim:

1. A package for a brush having a handle, ferrule and bristles comprising a resilient, sleeve-like portion for containing the ferrule and bristle portions of a brush, said sleeve-like portion including a backing member and a three-sided resilient channel shaped member having an indentation on a side adjacent said backing member, and said indentation restricting the cross section of the sleevelike portion a predetermined amount and tapering inwardly toward the portion of the package adapted to contain the ferrule, and said indentation being adapted to engage a brush at the end of the ferrule portion at the junction with the bristle portion, whereby upon entrance of a brush into the package, said indentation will be sprung outwardly to permit passage of the ferrule, and will resume its normal shape to lack at the end of the ferrule.

2. A package according to claim 1 in which said sleeve-like portion is at least partially restricted in cross section at one end, to allow entrance of a brush handle, and -to deter passage of the ferrule portion of the brush.

3. A package according to claim 1 in which said sleevelike portion is provided with a pair of opposed indentations.

4. A package according to claim 1 in which said channel-shaped member is of a transparent material.

5. A package according to claim 1 in which said sleevelike portion is of a transparent, resilient material and is provided with a pair of generally opposed indentations intermediate the ends of said sleeve-like portion, the distance between the innermost portions of said indentations being of a predetermined amount.

6. A sleeve-like package for a brush having a handle, ferrule and bristles comprising a backing member, a generally channel-shaped member permanently secured to said backing member, said channel-shaped member being of a transparent, resilient material, and including a wall portion substantially parallel to said backing member, and the other wall portions forming sides of said package, said channel-shaped member having a pair of opposed indentations on the sides thereof intermediate the ends, said indentations tapering gradually inwardly toward the portion of the package adapted to contain the ferrule, the distance between the innermost portions being of a predetermined amount, and said channel-shaped member having means at one end thereof for partially restricting the end of the sleeve-like portion in cross section.

7. A sleeve-like package according to claim 6 in which the indentations taper inwardly in the direction of said partially restricted end, and terminate abruptly to form an edge for locking at the junction of the ferrule and bristle portions of a brush contained in said package.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,148,767 9/1964 Dgetluck.

JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 206--78 

